This entertainment room needed a fresh new look. The homeowner still loved the dramatic red walls, but the furniture was outdated. With some new furniture, artwork, and accessories, the room has been revived, and is now a great social gathering place!
Offering everyday tips to the everyday homeowner. Beyond The Stage Homes is a division of Style Corporation.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Controlling Pests - ATH Tip from BTSH
Fruit Flies

I have heard a lot of remedies for getting rid of fruit flies, but the one that I find works best is the “trap”. Place a piece of fruit in a jar (something sweet like strawberries or peaches I find works best). Pour vinegar in the bottom of the jar, about 1/2 cm. Place the lid on the jar, and poke holes in the lid. The fruit flies will be attracted to the fruit, and get trapped in the jar, then drown in the vinegar.
Ants

If you have found the ants entry point to your home, the best solution is to patch the hole, but if it’s not that simple, then sprinkle coffee grinds or mint leaves around it to deter future entry. Sprinkle chilli powder or cinnamon in their path. Make a natural repellent of citrus peelings and water in a blender and pour it over the anthill. To create a bait, mix Borax with confections’ sugar.
Spiders

Only cool around Halloween, and then it’s only the fake ones that I like!
First off, keep all other bugs out of your home in order to prevent spiders from setting up shop. Spiders eat other bugs, so if they don’t have an easy meal to catch, they’ll look elsewhere. Of course, if you have a real bug problem, leave spiders as the last pest to rid your home of, as they’ll help you get rid of the others!
I like to vacuum any nests that I find, but you can use a broom as well if your vacuum doesn’t have an attachment that will reach. Essential oils are great to killing spiders. To keep spiders from returning, mix soap, water, and citrus oil and spray areas that spiders like to hang out.
Prevent Return Visits!
In order to prevent the return of these pests, be sure to keep your home clean!
- Wipe counters and tables with a mix of vinegar and water
- Be sure that all holes are patched and vents are screened
- Don’t let food sit out
- Be sure your garbage has a tight fitting lid, and empty regularly.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink
- Don’t allow water to sit out for a long time
Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com
Thursday, August 26, 2010
@AndreChinRemax is my "Go-To Guy"!
Had an amazing lunch yesterday with @AndreChinRemax! He really helped me out of a tough situation, and reminded me why he is THE “go-to guy”. Selling your home? Buying a home? Looking for some real estate advice? Talk to Andre, he’ll point you in the right direction.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Alex Kalotinis of Owen and Associates has recommended Shauna Lynn!
Alex Kalotinis of Owen and Associates has recommended Shauna Lynn on LinkedIN: “Shauna has a flair for seeing the potential in any home. While sticking to a budget and maintaining a professional attitude, she transforms your home. I will be sure to use her for all future endeavors, whether selling or simply re-organizing my current home. Her expertise and attention to detail are unmatched!” August 5, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Starting Plants from Seeds - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week
Tools You’ll Need
Seeds of your choice
Peat Moss Pots
Sharpie
Plant Marker Posts
Large Container for Pots—I used an aluminum roasting pan
Small Watering Can
Soil
Plant Food (optional)
Getting Started
All plants will have somewhat varying instructions for planting. These should be printed on the back of the packages of seeds. Be sure to read through these carefully before you begin. This year I chose to plant beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers, and rosemary. I noted when reading through that peas are actually safe to plant directly outdoors, prior to last frost. All others were planted in pots according to their directions.Next, decide how many pots of each seed you wish to do. Using your sharpie, label the peat moss pot to easily identify the plants later.
Fill your peat moss pots with soil. Plant seeds according to the package directions. Top with soil as needed. Place pots in the container you’ve chosen (as I mentioned, I simply picked up an aluminum roasting pan and arranged my pots in there). Lightly water the seeds, and place indoors in the sunniest location.
Caring for Your Seeds
Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com
Monday, April 19, 2010
How To Make a Simple Spring Door Hanger - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week
Tools You’ll NeedThis is really up to you, depending on how you would like to decorate your wreathe, but I have listed what I used (all of which were simply purchased at the dollar store), and you can feel free to modify to your style:
Kraft Wire String
Ribbon (2 different complimentary colours)
Artificial flowers
Craft Butterfly
Glue Gun
Now that you’ve selected your tools, start by making the wreath. To do this, I first made a circle to the size I wanted out of the kraft wire. Then I looped it again to double it, and then I wrapped the wire around the length of the circle, to give it stability. Then, I detached my flowers from their “stems”. The pink flowers were actually a part of a wreath already, but cut them off at their ends still. Next, I attached two of the larger flowers to what would become my outer two edges of the wreath. To attach, simply wrap a piece of kraft wire around the stem, and around the wire wreath (see picture at right).
As a final touch, I loosely wrapped the sheer pink ribbon around the entire wreath, careful not to fully cover any of the flowers. I used the same lace to tie a loop at the top for hanging. This is now proudly displayed on my front door to welcome guests!
Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
Creating The Outdoor Experience - BTSH Around The House Tip of the Week
The Backyard Bartender
Every time I visit a sunny southern destination, I consider picking up and moving, and becoming a beach bartender. While that may be a far-off dream, I can certainly enjoy creating some tropical cocktails in my own backyard. Having been a bartender for over a decade, the bartender in me has dreams of a custom built and well-designed outdoor bar. If you decide to go with custom built, be sure to hire the right professionals to take care of the plumbing and electrical. Consider combining your grill and your bar, for the full entertaining experience.
While custom-designed is always a great idea, it may not be the most practical, especially if you spend very few months of the year entertaining outdoors, as you’ll need to ensure that any outdoor permanent fixtures are protected from the elements in the winter months. There are however many great portable outdoor bars available with great functionality, but also give you the option of moving into a shed or garage in inclement weather.
Create The MoodWant the warmth of a fire, without the hassle of collecting wood, starting the fire, and then maintaining it? Not to mention the smell of campfire that sticks to your hair and clothes for days (mmm...campfire). While not a new concept in outdoor entertaining, there is a greater selection than ever now of outdoor fire bowls, such as the Venetian Fire Bowl from Canadian Tire (pictured at right). There are lots to choose from these days, ranging from tabletop size, to full size.
You can even get a gas fire pit (pictured left). These are operated on propane, and are portable enough to be place almost anywhere in your yard. They help to provide heat on a cool night, as well as create a warm ambience.
The Outdoor Living...RoomDecorating your outdoor room can be done with the same concepts in mind as decorating indoors. Look for inviting furniture with colours that compliment the surroundings, and create an enjoyable atmosphere for the activities that you enjoy outdoors. Look for durability and functionality, as well as comfort, for a room that you can enjoy all season long.
Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com